How your workplace can break the cycle of family violence
As Senior Copywriter at Lush, I worked alongside a specialist in domestic and family violence to write a 6,000 word white paper on the issue and how Australian workplaces can help to break the cycle of violence. Following the publication of the white paper, I wrote three articles on the subject which are previewed below.
The white paper can be found here: https://www.matchworks.com.au/for-employers/employer-resources/white-paper/
Family Violence in Australia Needs Your Attention
This is a collective call to arms for workplaces to rally change
Family and domestic violence has now reached a point in Australia where one woman each week and one man a month are losing their lives. Together, we can make powerful changes to stop the cycle of family violence.
With a series of three articles, we’re aiming to show you how your organisation can affect positive change. We begin here with understanding what domestic and family violence looks like today, speaking to an expert, and focusing on why your workplace is such an important driver for change.
Family Violence Doesn’t Discriminate, it Intersects
Exploring the intersections of family violence with three vulnerable groups
When I speak to people about family violence, I immediately remind them that it’s not like what you see on the media. It’s also not an issue that’s “out there”, it’s happening all over Australia and it doesn’t discriminate, it intersects.
The first article in this series, Family Violence in Australia Needs Your Attention, focuses on the necessity for workplaces to take action on this issue. I also focus on what family violence looks like in Australia today because, as domestic violence expert, Abby Newman, says, “When you think about the word violence you think physical violence, but a lot of survivors say, ‘I wish he’d just hit me.’ Because being voiceless, not having choice, and not having the ability to be who you are is probably one of the worst experiences of violence” (2019).
This leads us here, to article two, where I discuss the intersections of violence with a focus on three vulnerable groups. It’s the voicelessness that Newman speaks of which features heavily, as well as the severity of control and the additional barriers to reporting that these people may be experiencing.
Again, change is possible and beginning with a foundation of knowledge is essential. From there, you can bring this education to your workplace and change the conversations around family violence.
Changing the Cycle of Family Violence
Workplace strategies that you can implement today
As the third and final article in our series on family and domestic violence in Australia, this piece is focused on action. I’ll take you through tangible strategies that have the power to change the trajectory of this issue. And, while I know that the statistics I spoke about in article one can make the issue seem insurmountable, I also know that your contribution matters. KPMG reported that even a 5% reduction in family violence will prevent 6,000 new cases. That kind of change means that lives will be saved and it can also save $333 million in productivity costs over time (2016).